As energy drinks are increasingly questioned in Canada for their high caffeine content, pediatricians and other health professionals are questioning the ease of access to these products and particularly the consequences of their consumption for young people.
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Energy drinks are increasingly being sold across the country, whether at convenience stores or neighborhood grocery stores. Although a warning label warns those under the age of 18 about these drinks being contraindicated for them, these products are not subject to the same scrutiny as alcohol or cannabis.
Because of their rapid energy-boosting effects, energy drinks can lead to quite problematic health cases, according to medical professionals cited in a Global News article.
“In addition to a child or adolescent having a very large dose of caffeine, it is not uncommon for a person to consume more than one drink,” said Dr. Anna Banerji, associate professor of pediatrics at the University of Toronto School of Public Health.
“For them, it’s like they’ve had six, seven, even eight cups of coffee in one can,” she adds.
Significant side effects
For people who suddenly stop drinking after several drinks, a lack of caffeine could cause side effects such as nervousness, trouble sleeping, irritability, and anxiety.
According to a British Columbia medical information site, energy drinks could cause worrying side effects such as headaches, nausea, insomnia or an irregular heartbeat.
dr Banerji also points out that an energy drink contains a large amount of sugar.
However, the contents of a can may depend on the brand. For example, a Red Bull or a Monster may contain 80 to 160 milligrams (mg) of caffeine. A cup of coffee contains an average of 120 to 180 mg.
In some energy drinks, the caffeine content can even reach 300 mg.
Health Canada recommends that children and adolescents under the age of 18 consume no more than 2.5 mg of caffeine per kilogram (kg) of their body weight per day.